Plant Details

Eriobotrya japonica

Loquat

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Common names

48 names · 30 languages
EnglishYour language
+1 more nameShow fewer names
Other languages (29)
Dutch
  • Japanse (wol)mispel
  • Japanse mispel[2]
French
  • Bibacier[2]
  • Bibassier[2]
  • Néflier du Japon[2]
Afrikaans
  • Japanese mispel[2]
  • Lukwart[2]
Arabic
  • بوصاع[2]
Bunun
Catalan
  • Nesprer del Japó[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Croatian
  • Japanska mušmula[2]
  • Nešpola[2]
Czech
  • lokvát japonský[2]
Finnish
  • japaninmispeli[2]
Galician
  • Nespereira[2]
German
  • Japanische Mispel[1]
  • Japanische Wollmispel[2]
Greek
  • Μουσμουλιά[2]
Hebrew
Italian
  • Nespolo del Giappone[2]
Japanese
Korean
  • 비파나무[2]
Lithuanian
  • Japoninė lokva[2]
Polish
  • Nieśplik japoński[2]
Portuguese
  • Ameixa-amarela[2]
  • Magnório[2]
  • Nespereira[2]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
Russian
  • Мушмула японская[2]
  • Эриоботрия японская[2]
Slovak
  • mišpuľník japonský[2]
Spanish
  • Nispero de Espana[1]
  • Níspero chino[2]
  • Níspero del Japón[2]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Níspero japonés[2]
Swedish
  • japansk mispel[2]
Thai
  • ปี่แป่[2]
Turkish
  • malta eriği[2]
  • Yenidünya[2]
Ukrainian
  • Японська мушмула звичайна[2]
Language not specified
  • Wollmispel[1]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Japanese medlar (EN); Wollmispel — VernacularName.tsv, line 172038; taxon 3B2J8.
  • Japanische Mispel (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 172039; taxon 3B2J8.
  • Nispero de Espana (ES); Loquat — VernacularName.tsv, line 172040; taxon 3B2J8.
[2] Eriobotrya japonica — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Loquat — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Níspero chino — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Néflier du Japon — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Nespereira — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Japanese medlar — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Chinese medlar — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • 枇杷 — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Ameixa-amarela — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Nêspera — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Magnório — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Nespolo del Giappone — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • שסק — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • ビワ — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • 枇杷 — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Níspero del Japón — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Japanse mispel — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Japanische Wollmispel — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • 비파나무 — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • japaninmispeli — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • lokvát japonský — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Μουσμουλιά — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • japansk mispel — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • litu — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Japanska mušmula — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Nešpola — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Nesprer del Japó — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • 枇杷 — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • malta eriği — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Lukwart — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Japanese mispel — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Japanese Plum — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • ปี่แป่ — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Nespereira — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Nieśplik japoński — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Yenidünya — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Японська мушмула звичайна — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Эриоботрия японская — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Мушмула японская — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Bibacier — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Bibassier — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • mišpuľník japonský — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • بوصاع — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Níspero japonés — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.
  • Japoninė lokva — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 76949; Eriobotrya japonica.

General information

Scientific name: Eriobotrya japonica
Accepted name (Kew): Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [4] [5]
Botanical family: Rosaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Eriobotrya (WCVP v16).

Sources [4]
Also known as: Loquat
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree
Catalogue size class: Small, Medium
Height: 9.00 m
Spread: 5.00 m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Evergreen

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 8-11
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit flesh

Fruit flesh only. Remove seeds or stones; do not chew or eat the kernels.

Sources [2] [1] [3]
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Wood, Fragrant

Description

Loquat is an evergreen tree with fragrant flowers. Ripe fruit can be eaten fresh or cooked. Fruiting season depends on climate; in Florida harvest is generally February to May. Remove the seeds before eating the fruit. Seeds contain cyanogenic substances and should not be recommended as food or a coffee substitute.

Sources [1] [2] [3]

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/10
Harvest ends: 31/01

Crown

Crown shape: Broad ovoid
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. University of Florida IFAS Extension Loquat Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
    Supports: DescriptionEdible parts
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Description; uses; harvest and ripening table
    • Edible parts: Description; uses; harvest and ripening table

    Source checked on .

  2. Royal Horticultural Society Eriobotrya japonica (F) | loquat
    Supports: DescriptionEdible parts
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Description; Foliage; Cultivation; Potentially harmful, where applicable
    • Edible parts: Description; Foliage; Cultivation; Potentially harmful, where applicable

    Source checked on .

  3. Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A; PubMed record Quantification of amygdalin, prunasin, total cyanide and free cyanide in powdered loquat seeds
    Supports: DescriptionEdible parts
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Abstract; powdered seed samples and cyanogenic-compound measurements
    • Edible parts: Abstract; powdered seed samples and cyanogenic-compound measurements

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 310439; name ID 2948298; Eriobotrya Lindl.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 833604; name ID 2901791; Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  5. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Eriobotrya japonica

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 177017, ID 3B2J8: Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. (accepted).

    Source checked on .